Artists Alley Information Thread

Selling at Cons is best during the...

Spring	12.0%	[ 80 ]
Summer	30.2%	[ 201 ]
Fall	6.8%	[ 45 ]
Winter	5.4%	[ 36 ]
Any time!	45.6%	[ 303 ]
Total Votes:			[ 665 ]

[Vicemage]

InstantOatmeal

I remember having every single Harry Potter death from the last book spoiled to me in a DA poll before I even read it. One of the worst experiences of my life! I still have yet to read the book as I feel it's not worth it anymore. So spoilers are okay if sufficient warning is given, buuuttt....watch it. ;D

Well... let me give you another way to think about it. ^_^ This is how the VA from the panel I mentioned above handled the aftermath of the Stupid Question; he pointed out that, Okay, sure, you guys now all know what happens to these characters at the end. It was a tactless question, it was rude, and shouldn't have been asked, but it can't be undone now. But look at it this way--you know the destination, but you don't know how they actually got there, and isn't that what the story's really about? The path they take, more than the destination they arrive at?

[InstantOatmeal]

True...Now to find time to read it...

While we're at it: Would it be considered underhanded to have one or two fanart pieces just to get people to come look at your stuff? XD

[Fiammetta Rey]

I don't think so... as long as they're stuff you genuinely like. It's also a good conversation starter, or it can be. I've noticed some series are a lot more popular than people think... I haven't done AA yet, but from talking to people, you'd think Naruto and Death Note and those types of shows woould be good conversation starters, but almost the same number of people I've spoken with know so-called less popular series like Princess Tutu. Even people who don't seem to be that into girly stuff like that. So I think it might be better to have a Princess Tutu picture than a Deah Note one... just because the difference in the amount of people who like it compared to those who like Death Note is not as big as the difference between the amount of other artists selling Death Note prints. I know I'll buy almost anything I see with shows like Saiyuki, .hack, Full Metal Panic, Slayers... less obvious, but the fan base is still there.

Oh, and on the spoilers... I have a very strict policy about letting spoilers go unmarked. I think that unless the series has aired on American TV, and it's been a year since the DVD release, then, maybe don't mark the more trivial stuff. That's just where I perceive the everyone knows point to be. Fansub people finished it, TV people finished it, DVD people have probably had enough of a chance to finish it. So maybe like... the first FMA, or the first 100 episodes of Naruto. Or the first 50 of Bleach. Maybe. I still would mark important stuff. There'll always be someone who's new to anime.

[CuteyHoneyChan]

Hi, I'm going to my second convention and I'm wondering if I should sell copies of my comic book.
It's a complete 31 page story and many people online have complimented me on it...

A few questions keep popping up though:

Should I sell my comic?
How much should I charge?
Should I put some kind of trademark or my name or something so people know it's mine?
(That's what I'm really concerned about...)

Any help is appricated...Thanks!! *bows* heart

[Fiammetta Rey]

I think you shoud go for it! You should definitely put your name on it... cover, title page, back cover should all say "by (your name)", plus maybe your website on the back cover or title page (or both).

(+I love Code Geass chara fortune charms... I would totally love your sig... but.... Rolo's a psychopath... then again, who in Code Geass isn't?)





(Gino isn't)

[Kaxen]

CuteyHoneyChan

Should I sell my comic?
How much should I charge?
Should I put some kind of trademark or my name or something so people know it's mine?
(That's what I'm really concerned about...)

If you think it will sell, try it out. If you're unsure, just don't print a ton of copies.

I'm selling a 20-page full-color comic for $4. >_> Going to see if it sells tomorrow at Anime Expo...

You should probably put your name on it somewhere. Or at least a link to your website. Especially if it's going to be a series.

[foreverAbii]

Many of those I ask, but the most is what if they hate it?

[Vicemage]

Do it! Sell your comic! biggrin I love picking up original comics in the AA, personally... my only real strict rule is to not buy anything that's done in right-to-left fashion, just because in general if someone's doing it that way, they also lack the skills to execute a decent story, so it's not worth my time.

For how much to charge, charge more than it costs you to make, but low enough to make it a reasonable purchase. (I previously did a 40-page mostly B/W book for $4; I'm switching to a 200+ page hybrid book that will go for somewhere around $12-15, the final price remains to be seen...)

And absolutely put your name on it, take credit for your work and make it possible for those who like it to find more! Mine have my name, my writer's name, and our website on them, so further chapters can be found easily.

If you want any leads on printers, btw, I did a rather long and detailed tutorial/guide on printing using various internet POD services. It's off in the guild linked at the start of this thread; I don't know offhand if you're a member of it, but it's an open guild so you can read the thread even without joining. smile

[AEAcomics]

What if I don't sell anything for me, definitely.

But...I think I will do fine. smile
Got an email and my prints shipped yesterday morning. Can't wait to see them! Can't wait to get this research paper finished so I can resume working on my comic pages xD

[Vicemage]

I'm glad to finally get my mojo back on my comic after being blocked for so long, myself... to make my deadline for my books, I have about a month to get all pages done for the current chapter I'm on (I'm pencilling 10/30-something currently), and then another ten days or so to get everything touched up and submitted to the printer...

*tears out hair*

I think more alcohol is needed.

[Kaxen]

Vicemage

I'm glad to finally get my mojo back on my comic after being blocked for so long, myself... to make my deadline for my books, I have about a month to get all pages done for the current chapter I'm on (I'm pencilling 10/30-something currently), and then another ten days or so to get everything touched up and submitted to the printer...

*tears out hair*

I think more alcohol is needed.

Wouldn't you need an absurd amount of caffeine?

>_> Though when I was belting out my comic... being I couldn't decide and did two instead... I drank so much tea and coffee that I got a horrible stomach ache.

But now I can smell that new comic book smell... though I'm not sure if snorting comic books is very good for one's health. O_o But my backpack smells lime cinammon buns... so they'll probably smell like cinnamon soon...

Gah! I need a good night's sleep to do all this convention stuff, but there's a high probability of me being too damn nervous/excited to sleep.

crying If I don't sell a thing at Anime Expo, I'm going to cry.

[InstantOatmeal]

Okay, yet another fanart question:
Would something like this do well at all? (It's unfinished, obviously.) It's Legato Bluesummers from Trigun. Still one of my favorite shows ever, even if I'm not as into anime as I used to be. I'm asking about both the character/series and the composition. If I do end up deciding to sell fanart, I want it to be good. sweatdrop http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/InstantOatmeal/legatowip.jpg

(I'll be deleting the pic as soon as I get some feedback so I don't stretch my post.)

[Seijaku_Ishida]

Oh, I like. I saw a LOT of older animes being cosplayed so I don't see why it wouldn't sell. :3 I lost count of all the Vashs we saw at Ohayocon XD

[Vicemage]

PEOPLE LOVE TRIGUN. Seriously. One of these days I'll get some more Trigun charms made, they go nuts over the tiny little Vash I did, and I was never even 100% happy with the art for it... sweatdrop They're always asking for Legato and Knives, too, so that Legato print will likely do well. (Looks good so far, too!)

Kaxen: I'm actually completely caffeine-insensitive. If I drink enough, it'll make my hands shake, but otherwise I have no effects relating to alertness from it. Regular alcohol works as a very nice relaxant on me (and as long as I don't drink too much, I can generally still draw while drinking, too). Additionally, the absinthe I was drinking last night did a nice job of numbing my injured foot and making me want to do things, so if it comes down to me obsessing too much over the damn foot and freaking out over the schedule I have written up on my board (I'm looking at 28 days to completion of this comic, while working full-time, customizing a BJD body, and starting work on three costumes), another glass of that ought to at least take the edge off and make my foot feel better without the demotivation I'm getting from painkillers. It's a weird thing, I know, but it works okay for me, and I'm more than old enough to drink anyway. ^_^

And you'll do FINE for sales, I'm sure! It's a pity your con circuit won't bring you near me, I'd pick up one of your comics for sure!

(Aw, crap, that reminds me, I've got that doujin I want to do too... at least that's got a 10/15 deadline instead of 7/29.)

[InstantOatmeal]

Excellent! I was worried that with shows like Naruto and stuff that the "oldies" like Trigun and Bebop would be forgotten. And those are my favorite anime! XD